Your precious pearly whites, the permanent set of teeth are irreplaceable, especially once you have lost your baby teeth. So instead of repenting tomorrow, it's best to take good care of them today.
These are some things you should do on a daily basis that promote healthy teeth and gums:
1. FLOSSING
We all know we must brush twice a day but what we don't know is that flossing is as important if not more. It helps remove bacteria lodged between the teeth due to food particles. These areas are inaccessible by the toothbrush bristles and hence harbour bacteria if not flossed daily. Once they start to multiply, they can cause cavities that progress rapidly. The only way to keep these areas clean is to Floss.
2. CHOOSING THE RIGHT TOOTHBRUSH
One thinks using a hard bristled toothbrush would make it easy to clean their teeth but that’s a myth.Using a hard bristled toothbrush could lead to loss of enamel, causing sensitivity in your teeth. It is always recommended to use a soft or ultra-soft bristled toothbrush.
3. BRUSHING THE RIGHT WAY
Brushing your teeth in a widely used technique like scrubbing horizontally or vertically is not the ideal way to clean your teeth. These harsh strokes wear down your enamel over time. One should visit a dentist and learn the right brushing technique suitable for each individual as per their needs.
4. DISCARD YOUR OLD BRUSH
When was the last time you changed your brush??? You should not use a toothbrush for too long as it will have harmful bacteria that can lead to infections. Moreover, old toothbrushes are mostly ineffective because the bristles degrade over time. It is even suggested to change your toothbrush after a bout of cold. Using a toothbrush with frayed bristles is also not good for the enamel. One should change their toothbrush every 2-3 months.
5. DON'T BRUSH TOO HARD
You probably thought that brushing too hard cleans better. Well, this habit of yours is actually hurting your gums and enamel. It makes you lose enamel, make your gums recede, exposing the root of your tooth leading to sensitivity.
6. DON'T BRUSH RIGHT AFTER EATING
Some people think that brushing right after eating is good for the teeth. In reality, it is not! The acids produced in the mouth after a meal along with brushing immediately after a meal leads to a lot of tooth wear. So wait for at least 30 minutes after a meal before you brush your teeth.
7. DON'T EAT TOO MUCH SUGAR
Sugar is one of the biggest culprits that cause damage to teeth and gums. It leads to bacteria that produce acids and if this stays longer in your mouth, the acid will start acting on your tooth leading to cavities & other issues.
8. CITRUS & ACIDITY
Frequent intake of citric juices like sweet-lime, lemon, orange, Indian gooseberries (amla) or in concentrated form like lime shots causes a lot of acid attack on the teeth making the enamel weak. People with uncontrolled acidic tendencies also suffer from enamel wear because the stomach acids end up damaging the teeth.
9. EATING AT REGULAR INTERVALS
It is a false belief that eating more frequently leads to weight gain. In fact the opposite holds true. Eating smaller meals at a shorter interval helps in better digestion and also controls acidity thereby preventing teeth damage. Long gaps between meals are not recommended.
10. TOBACCO
This goes without saying that tobacco is the biggest reason for oral problems. Chewing tobacco is, in fact, worst of all forms.It cuts blood supply to the gums and excess can even lead to oral cancer.
11. OPENING PACKETS, SACHETS OR BOTTLES?
Many people use their teeth to open a pack, tear off tags from clothes or even sometimes open bottles. This is extremely harmful for your teeth and gums both. Sometimes it may chip or fracture your tooth too. Teeth are just for chewing food, not to be used as a tool.
12. VISIT A DENTIST FOR REGULAR CHECK-UPS:
One should visit a dentist at least once in 6 months for a regular checkup and clean up if required. Regular follow up visits make sure that you don’t end up having a bigger problem, as the proverb goes,“CATCH THEM YOUNG”. Just like your car gets serviced once in 6 months to run smoothly without breaking down, even your teeth need a regular checkup so that they don’t bother you suddenly. Remember, “PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE”.